California Mountain Lions Receive New Protections

The Mountain Lion Foundation announced that the California legislature has passed a bill to curtail the inhumane practice of killing mountain lions that come into contact with people but pose no imminent threat to public safety. The bill has gone to the governors test who must sign the bill for it to become law.

The law gives the California Department of Fish and Wildlife authority to work with qualified partners who are trained, certified and equipped to step up and aid the department when and where nonlethal measures are required to reduce a lion’s potential for human conflict. Potential partners include zoos, veterinarians, wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facilities, and colleges and universities.